System and method for managing and controlling robot competition

Abstract

A system and method for operating robots in a robot competition. One embodiment of the system may include operator interfaces, where each operator interface is operable to control movement of a respective robot. A respective operator interface may be in communication with an associated operator radio, where each radio may have a low power RF output signal. A robot controller may be coupled to each robot in the robot competition. A robot radio may be coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and operator radio. The robot radios may have a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective operator radios. Alternatively, the radios may be short range radios, where a distance of communication may be a maximum of approximately 500 feet.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, said system comprising:
 a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot; 
 a first plurality of radios, each first radio being in communication with a respective operator interface, and having a low power RF output signal, each first radio tuned to a unique communications channel; 
 a plurality of robots; 
 a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and 
 a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio, and having a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective first radio, each second radio tuned to a communications channel corresponding to the unique communications channel of a corresponding first radio. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the low power RF output signal is a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of radios have a maximum communication range of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard. 
     
     
       7. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, said system comprising:
 a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot; 
 a first plurality of radios, each first radio being in communication with a respective operator interface on a unique communications channel, and having a short communication range; 
 a plurality of robots; 
 a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and 
 a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio on the unique communications channel as a corresponding first radio, and having a short communication range. 
 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first radios have low power RF output signal of a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the short communication range is a maximum of approximately 500 feet. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard. 
     
     
       13. A system for controlling a robot competition having a plurality of robots engaged therein, said system comprising:
 at least one arena controller operable to provide control of the robots; 
 a plurality of operator interfaces coupled to said at least one arena controller; and 
 a plurality of operator radios being in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of operator interfaces and coupled thereto, each of the plurality of operator radios in communication with a corresponding operator interface on a unique communications channel. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of operator radios operate on a separate channel as commanded by a corresponding arena controller. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one arena controller further provides control of said operator interfaces. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said operator radios are capable of communicating on channels restricted for tournament use. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the control includes at least one of the following:
 enabling and disabling of the robots, and 
 allocating of a channel. 
 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of robot controllers operable to control a corresponding robot, each robot controller coupled to a robot radio to communicate with a corresponding operator radio. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the robot controllers include a sweep means for sweeping the operator frequencies of the robot radios. 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a field controller coupled to said at least one arena controller.